Elisha Boone grew up all over New York City – Brooklyn,
Queens and Long Island. He decided to get away for a while and started looking
at schools outside of the state. He found out about Tech and thought he’d just
drop by to check it out.

"I was looking for a new home after my old school,” he
said. “I fell in love with Tech after my first visit. I cancelled all my other
visits and made my commitment."

The 22-year-old sport management major said he feels at home
here. He’s made friends. He even landed the Mr. Golden Bear homecoming king
spot during this year’s Homecoming festivities. He’s also a shooting guard on
the men’s basketball team, where he gets to play the sport he loves.

He said that basketball has taken him to places he never
imagined. It helped to bring him to Tech. It also took him to Puerto Rico,
where he experienced something that changed the way he sees the world.

Over the summer, Boone teamed up with the faith-based group Athletes
in Action. They put together a team of college players from around the nation
for a three-week program; one week training together in Florida and then two
weeks in Puerto Rico.

The group spent their days working with children during a
series of basketball skills camps. Kids ages 5-11 learned the basics of the
sport as they worked alongside the visiting college students.

"We did that three or four times. We did another camp
in an arena and it was at least 200 kids. We demonstrated some basic skills
like ball-handling, shooting and passing. It was good. It was such a good
experience,” he said.

For Boone, working with these youngsters was an altogether
eye-opening experience. Many of them had faced extreme poverty. Some had even
been the victims of abuse.

“We went to a foster home for kids. There were kids that
were physically and sexually abused,” he said.

“It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen in my life,
to see how hurt a kid that's only two years old can be. That they understand what
it is to be hurt and what it is to hate at such a young age.”

So he put his energy into helping them learn the sport that
gave him so much to look forward to in life. There’s a powerful social aspect
to shooting hoops that can give players a sense of community. And for Boone,
there’s a healing element to the game, too.

"I sometimes used to use basketball as a way to get
away and clear my mind. Or as a way to be with myself and my thoughts. It gives
these kids something to put their time into or to use as motivation. It gives
them an outlet and it inspires them to work hard and to be great at something,”
he said.

Outside of the camps, Boone spent time with the children and
within the community.

"We hosted a foot-washing and feeding day. We had
people come in and we washed their feet. We prayed with them. They ate with us
and we got to learn about their lives,” he said.

"It was a humbling experience,” he said. “It changed
the way I look at things and the way I'm looking at life. I'm more appreciative
of everything I have now.”

Boone said his single greatest experience was an interaction
with a shy two-year old from the foster home.

“It took her 15 minutes to trust me and say 'Okay, he's not
going to hurt me.’ Then she put her hand in mine. I spend some time with her
there, and that was probably the most memorable moment of that trip,” he said.

The visiting players also spent some time on the court,
playing against semi-professional teams from the region. Boone was fascinated
with the experience. He wants to play professionally and then ultimately go
into coaching where he can give back, and could easily see himself following
that path to Puerto Rico.

After his trip, Boone kept in touch with a few of the folks
he met. When Hurricane Maria devastated the region in September, he said he
spent weeks praying for their safety as he tried to reach them. (He did, and
they’re okay.)

In all, Boone said the experience is something he’ll never
forget. He plans to return in the future.

"Whether it's professionally or just to visit them again,
either way, I'll be back,” he said.

Elisha Boone is one of
the many Golden Bears giving back. If you’re a student or employee and you want
to get involved in the community, get in touch with WVU Tech’s office of Service & Learning.